Vault construction



Dgftsman.

ma was, BANK Pammsum ND RELATED DEVICES.

E. A. STR/mss.

VAULT CONSTRUCTION.

1,376,839. I I Patented May 3, 1921.

:Z6/2 bHEETS-SHEET T.

WAT WN 9 Mmmm@ BANK Pofcsom AND RELATED DEVICES. Draftsman' E. A. STRAUSS.

VAULT CONSTRUCTION.'

APPLICATION HLED'APR.2\. 1919.

1,376,839. Patented May 3, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Kil'- trated.

top walls. Thus a solid foundation is pro- 1 p i n n* Draftsman.I AN@ RELATED @trimm {il} et UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL A. STRAUSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VA'UL'I CONSTRUCTION.

1,376,839 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 3, 192L Application led April 21, 1919. Serial No. 291,596.

T allwtom it may concern: My invention aims to provide a burglar- Be it known that I, EMIL A. STRAUSs, a. proof wall construction wherein not only citizen of the United States, residing at Chiwill maximum reinforcing resistance be cago, in the county of Cook and State of offered against penetration of the wall, but 55 5 Illinois, have invented a certain new and the concrete portion of the wall will be useful Improvement in Vault Construction, substantially monolithic; the various reinof which the following is a full, clear, conforcing units being embedded and effeccise, and exact description, reference being tively interlocked by means of the concrete. had to the accompanying drawings, form- Mfy invention aims further to provide a 60 ing a part of this specification. burglar-proof reinforced wall construction My invention relates to vaults and parof the simplest character consistent with ticularly to an improved reinforced wall Strength and effectiveness. construction for .use in connection with In accordance with the teachings of my vaults of the security or burglar-proof type. invention I have provided for the construc- 65 The prior art walls of this general detion of a security or burglar-proof vault, scription have invariably been constructed the walls of which are composed of H of concrete reinforced with steel rails or columns, I beams or beams of similar cross various types of reinforcing rods. Great Section embedded and securely interlocked difficulty has been experienced in reinforcin concrete or the like to form a solid wall. 70 ing a concrete wall with steel rails so as to I have further provided for binding the effectively prevent penetration of the conreinforcing beams along their upper and crete in such a manner as to entirely avoid lower edges, within their length and at all the reinforcing structure. Penetration of corners by means of suitable angle irons, the concrete in such manner as to encounter tie rods or the like. 75 little or no reinforcing resistance-as has Other aims of my invention not hereinheretofore been a comparatively simple before set forth will appear from the folmatter-obviously facilitates removal of lowing detailed description and the claims, the concrete surrounding a particular rail taken with an inspection of the accomor plurality of rails, whereupon access to panying drawings, in which- 80 the vault may be readily gained by cutting vFigure l shows in vertical section an away-as by means of an acetylene torch or illustrative embodiment of my invention; the like--the necessary rail or rails. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken In attempting to overcome such disadsubstantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; vantages the steel rails are frequently ar- Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed fragmen- 85 ranged so close together that the flanges of tary vertical section of the steel reinforcing the rails present a continuous line of cleavstructure; age along the sides of the reinforcing struc- Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed horizontal ture; making it practically impossible to fragmentary section of the same; and embed eachl of the various rails of the re- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of a modi- 90 inforcing structure in a substantially monofication.

lithic concrete wall. Thus the concrete in- Although my invention is primarily instead of embedding each of the various rails tended for use in connection with security to securely interlock the same, forms in efvaults and the like it will be apparent as fect, a closure comprising independent conthis description proceeds, that the invention 95 crete walls adjacent the sides of the reinwill admit of broader application than the forcing structure. I have observed that it specific use which I shall describe as an inis a simple -matter to cut through such a stance of its employment. concrete wall whereupon the entire reinforc- As shown in Fig. l the base or iioor l of ing structure is exposed and not being inthe vault is preferably reinforced in sub- 100 terlocked with concrete can be readily penestantially the same manner as the side and versely therebeneath although it is to be understood that the beams 2 can be arranged directly in the concrete base or floor 1 if so desired.

A plurality of beams 4 similar to the beams 2 are arranged between the beams 2 in staggered relation thereto as shown. The beams 4 may be supported by means of suitable beams 5 arranged transversely beneath their opposite ends if so desired, although this is not essential. The floor or base reinforcing structure thus provided is interlocked throughout by means of the concrete wall 1. `While the concrete wall thus provided is substantially monolithic, penetration thereof-in such manner as to encounter little or no reinforcing resistance-is effectively prevented.

Installation of the floor or base is greatly facilitated by filling in the concrete to the proper depth for supporting the beams 2 in the position shown. Upon allowing the concrete thus filled to set, installing the beams 3 and arranging the beams 2 thereacross, this depth of concrete is increased sufficiently to support the beams 4 at a relatively greater height than the beams 2 substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

Upon completion of the floor or base reinforcing structure in. this manner an angle iron binding element 6 is arranged about the outer edges of the beams 2 and bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The horizontal beams 2 are of relatively greater length than the horizontal beams 4 whereby the binding element 6 can be arranged transversely across the opposite ends of the beams 2; clearing the relatively shorter beams 4. An angle iron binding element 7 similar to but relatively smaller than the angle iron binding element 6 is arranged about the beams 4 substantially as shown in Fig. 1 and suitably secured thereto.

The upright columns 8 and 9-of H, I or similar cross section-are then arranged about the outer edges of the floor or base reinforcing structure in staggered order substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The columns 8 are securely bound together adjacent the lower edges of their outer flanges by means of the angle iron binding element 6, the outer fia-nges of the columns 8 being bolted to the vertical flange of this binding element 6 as by means of suitable bolts 10, (Fig. 4). The columns 9 are securely bound together adjacent the lower edges of their inner flanges by means of the angle iron binding element 7 being bolted to the vertical flange of the binding element 7 by means of suitable bolts 11.

As clearly shown the upper edges of the upright columns 8 and 9 respectively are likewise securely bound together. An angle iron binding element 12, similar to the binding element 6 but inverted relative thereto, is securely bolted about the outer flanges of the columns adjacent the upper edges thereof. The upper edges of the columns 9, the height of which columns 9 is less than the height of the columns 8 (Fig. 1) are bound together by means of an angle iron binding element 14 bolted or otherwise suitably secured therealong.

rlhe angle iron binding members 12 and 14, which angle iron binding members are similar to the binding members 6 and 7, comprise (as shown in Fig. 2) angle iron corner pieces connected together by suitable angle irons extending therebetween. These angle irons are welded, bolted or otherwise suitably joined to the angle iron corner pieces to provide a continuous angle iron binding element about the upper, lower, inner and outer edges respectively of the entire reinforcing structure.

In addition to binding the outer reinforcing wall composed of the columns 8 and the inner reinforcing wall composed of the columns 9 independently I provide for binding the columns 8 and 9 securely together by means of a plurality of tie rods 16. As shown in Fig. 4, these tie rods 16, which are preferably provided with suitable burn resisting sleeves (not shown) extend through the columns 8 adjacent their inner flanges and continue through the columns 9 adjacent their outer flanges. Suitable nuts 17 engage the opposite ends of the tie rods 16, binding the upright reinforcing columns 8 and 9 securely together at the various corners of the structure.

The binding elements 12 and 14 not only serve to bind the outer and inner upper edges of the columns 8 and 9 respectively but in addition serve to support the opposite ends of the horizontal ceiling reinforcing beams 16 and 17 (Figs. 1 and 2). These horizontal ceiling reinforcing beams 16 and 17 span the binding members 12 and 14 respectively and are bolted or otherwise suitably secured at their opposite ends to these binding members as shown in Fig. 3. These ceiling reinforcing beams 16 and 17 are preferably bound together by means of suitable tie rods 24 (Fig. 3) as are the floor or base reinforcing beams 2 and 4.

ma. sazfEs, mentiras It will nou7 be apparent that by reason of the relative different heights of the binding members 12 and 14 that the horizontal ceiling reinforcing beams 16 and 17 will be arranged in staggered order substantially as described in connection with the base or floor reinforcing beams 2 and 4. The beams 17 are as hereinbefore pointed out relatively shorter than the beams 16 their opposite ends terminating at the inner edge of the outer upright columns, 8, as shown in Fig. 2, while the horizontal beams 16 are of such length as to span the outer binding member 12 to which binding member they are suitabl secured as hereinbefore pointed out.

pon completion of the reinforcing structure the concrete is filled in to form the ceiling 18, vertical walls 2O and to complete or finish the floor or base 1. Obviously the practically monolithic concrete structure thus provided completely surrounds each of the various reinforcing beams, effectively interlocking the same to provide a wall of great strength. As the present invention is not concerned with the particular manner of filling in the concrete, I do not consider that it is necessary to describe this feature in detail as the same is old and well understood by those skilled in the art.

It will now be apparent that the burglar proof wall construction thus provided is of the simplest character consistent with strength and effectiveness.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the outer and inner reinforcing beams 8 and 9 respectively are arranged in independent parallel spaced rows, an intermediate row of beams 22 being arranged therebetween substantially as shown. Thus the outer flanges of the beams 22 are arranged between the beams 8, the inner flanges of these beams 22 being arranged between the beams 9. Upon installation of the concrete wall these various beams are effectively interlocked, providing a unitary structure exceedingly difficult to penetrate. The beams 8', 22 and '9 can be bound together-if so desired-by means of tie rods 23 substantially as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

While I have described my invention in connection with the details of a particular embodiment I do not intend thereby to limit the invention to such details as I am aware, and contemplate that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the invention which is set out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vault wall comprising a body of concrete, and a series of similar Lbeams embedded therein with their longitudinal edges parallel to and distanced from the wall faces, each two I-beams being spaced from and staggered relative to each other with the edges of all their adjacent flanges disposed substantially equidistantly substantially in the same plane.

2. In combination, a series of reinforcing beams, a second series of reinforcing beams arranged in staggered order therebetween, binding means for said first series of beams,

independent binding means for said second series of beams, a plurality of tiesrodsfor binding said independent seriesofbeams together, and @losu/rf'r'said structure comprising a substantially monolithic concrete wall embedding said structure and filling the spaces between said beams.

3. In a burglar-proof vault construction, the combination of a series of reinforcing columns having a binding member arranged thereabout, a second series of reinforcing columns of a height substantially greater than the height of said first series of columns, a binding member arranged about said second series of columns, a plurality of reinforcing beams arranged across said first binding member, and a plurality of reinforcing beams arranged across said second binding member, the difference in height between said first and second series of reinforcing columns positioning said second series of reinforcing beams in staggered order between said first series of reinforcing beams.

4. In a burglar-proof vault construction the combination with a base formed of a plurality of beams arranged in staggered order, of a series of reinforcing columns having a binding member arranged about the lower ends thereof and connected to said base, a second series of reinforcing columns arranged in staggered order between said first series of reinforcing columns, a binding member arranged about the lower ends of said second series of reinforcing columns and connected to said base and means for binding said first and second series of columns and said base reinforcing beams together.

5. In a burglar proof vault reinforcing structure, a series of substantially upright wall columns, a second series of substantially upright wall columns terminating at different heights than said first wall columns, a series of ceiling beams carried by said first wall columns, a second series of ceiling beams carried by said second wall columns, the different points of termination of said columns effecting a staggered arrangement of said ceiling beams.

6. In a burglar proof vault a reinforcing structure including, a base beam, a substantially upright wall column mounted thereupon, a second base beam staggered relative to said first base beam, a second substantially upright wall column mounted upon said Draftsman ,I4-p cond base beam, therupper ends of said order therebetween, a series of substantially substantially uprightwall columns termiupright Wall columns carried by said rst :mating at different heights and ceiling beams series of base beams and a second series of carried by said Wall columns the different substantially upright Wall columns carried points of termination of said columns etfectby said second series of base beams and arl5 ing a staggered arrangement of said ceiling ranged in staggered order between said irst beams. series of Wall columns.

7. In a burglar prooi Vault reinforcing In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe structure, a series of base beams, a second semy name this 16th day of April, 1919.

10 ries of base beams arranged in staggered EMIL A. STRAUSS. 

